Sterile fluid pathway connection to drug containers for drug delivery pumps

ABSTRACT

A user-initiated fluid pathway connection includes: a connection hub, a piercing member, a sterile sleeve, and a drug container having a cap, a pierceable seal, a barrel, and a plunger seal, wherein the piercing member is initially retained within the sterile sleeve between the connection hub and the pierceable seal of the drug container. The connection hub may include an internal aperture within the connection hub which functions as a flow restrictor and wherein a piercing member is connected to one end of the internal aperture and a fluid conduit is connected to another end of the internal aperture. A drug delivery pump with integrated sterility maintenance features includes a housing, upon which an activation mechanism, an insertion mechanism, a fluid pathway connection as described above, a power and control system, and a drive mechanism connected to a drug container are mounted. Methods of assembly and operation are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/612,203, filed Sep. 12, 2012, which will issue on Jul. 17, 2017 asU.S. Pat. No. 9,707,337, and which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/534,059, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, both of whichare included by reference herein in their entireties for all purposes.

FIELD

THIS INVENTION relates to drug delivery pumps. More particularly, thisinvention relates to user-initiated sterile fluid pathway connections todrug containers, drug delivery pumps which utilize these connections,the methods of operating such devices, and the methods of assemblingsuch devices.

BACKGROUND

Parenteral delivery of various drugs, i.e., delivery by means other thanthrough the digestive track, has become a desired method of drugdelivery for a number of reasons. This form of drug delivery byinjection may enhance the effect of the substance being delivered andensure that the unaltered medicine reaches its intended site at asignificant concentration. Similarly, undesired side effects associatedwith other routes of delivery, such as systemic toxicity, canpotentially be avoided through parenteral delivery. By bypassing thedigestive system of a mammalian patient, one can avoid degradation ofthe active ingredients caused by the catalytic enzymes in the digestivetract and liver and ensure that a necessary amount of drug, at a desiredconcentration, reaches the targeted site.

Traditionally, manually operated syringes and injection pens have beenemployed for delivering parenteral drugs to a patient. More recently,parenteral delivery of liquid medicines into the body has beenaccomplished by administering bolus injections using a needle andreservoir, continuously by gravity driven dispensers, or via transdermalpatch technologies. Bolus injections often imperfectly match theclinical needs of the patient, and usually require larger individualdoses than are desired at the specific time they are given. Continuousdelivery of medicine through gravity-feed systems compromises thepatient's mobility and lifestyle, and limits the therapy to simplisticflow rates and profiles. Another form of drug delivery, transdermalpatches, similarly has its restrictions. Transdermal patches oftenrequire specific molecular drug structures for efficacy, and the controlof the drug administration through a transdermal patch is severelylimited.

Ambulatory infusion pumps have been developed for delivering liquidmedicaments to a patient. These infusion devices have the ability tooffer sophisticated fluid delivery profiles accomplishing bolusrequirements, continuous infusion and variable flow rate delivery. Theseinfusion capabilities usually result in better efficacy of the drug andtherapy and less toxicity to the patient's system. Currently availableambulatory infusion devices are expensive, difficult to program andprepare for infusion, and tend to be bulky, heavy and very fragile.Filling these devices can be difficult and require the patient to carryboth the intended medication as well as filling accessories. The devicesoften require specialized care, maintenance, and cleaning to assureproper functionality and safety for their intended long-term use, andare not cost-effective for patients or healthcare providers.

As compared to syringes and injection pens, pump type delivery devicescan be significantly more convenient to a patient, in that doses of thedrug may be calculated and delivered automatically to a patient at anytime during the day or night. Furthermore, when used in conjunction withmetabolic sensors or monitors, pumps may be automatically controlled toprovide appropriate doses of a fluidic medium at appropriate times ofneed, based on sensed or monitored metabolic levels. As a result, pumptype delivery devices have become an important aspect of modern medicaltreatments of various types of medical conditions, such as diabetes, andthe like.

While pump type delivery systems have been utilized to solve a number ofpatient needs, manually operated syringes and injection pens oftenremain a preferred choice for drug delivery as they now provideintegrated safety features and can easily be read to identify the statusof drug delivery and the end of dose dispensing. However, manuallyoperated syringes and injections pens are not universally applicable andare not preferred for delivery of all drugs. There remains a need for anadjustable (and/or programmable) infusion system that is precise andreliable and can offer clinicians and patients a small, low cost, lightweight, simple to use alternative for parenteral delivery of liquidmedicines.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides container connections which areuser-initiated and which maintain the sterility of the fluid pathway,and drug delivery pumps which incorporate such sterile fluid pathwayconnections to drug containers, the methods of operating such devices,and the methods of assembling such devices. The fluid pathwayconnections of the present invention provide integrated safety featureswhich ensure the sterility of the fluid pathway before, during, andafter drug delivery. In one aspect, the fluid pathway remainsdisconnected from the drug container until the connection and the deviceare initiated by the user. In a second aspect, the fluid pathwaymaintains the sterility of the piercing member prior to connection withthe drug container within a sterile sleeve that is collapsible orcompressible to enable connection upon activation by the user. Uponactivation by the user, the piercing member of the fluid pathwayconnection is caused to pierce a pierceable seal of the drug containerto connect the fluid pathway and enable fluid flow through the fluidpathway for drug delivery into the body of the user. Accordingly, thenovel devices of the present invention alleviate one or more of theproblems associated with prior art devices, such as those referred toabove.

In a first embodiment, the present invention provides a user-initiatedfluid pathway connection. The fluid pathway connection includes: aconnection hub, a piercing member, a sterile sleeve, and a drugcontainer having a cap, a pierceable seal, a barrel, and a plunger seal,wherein the piercing member is initially retained within the sterilesleeve between the connection hub and the pierceable seal of the drugcontainer. The drug container may contain a drug fluid for delivery,upon initiation by the user, through the fluid pathway connection to thebody of the user. The pierceable seal includes a seal barrier that maybe penetrated, upon user initiation, by the piercing member. In at leastone embodiment, the piercing member is initially within the pierceableseal and in contact with, or adjacent to, the seal barrier. Such aconfiguration may minimize the distance the fluid pathway connectionmust be translated to enable connection of the fluid path. The fluidpathway connection may optionally include a connection mount attached tothe pierceable seal.

The sterile sleeve of the fluid pathway connection is compressible orcollapsible, or otherwise deformable from its initial configuration. Inat least one embodiment, the sterile sleeve is a pre-formed aspect ofthe pierceable seal such that the two are a unified component. Thesterile sleeve may be connected to the connection hub by engagementbetween hub connectors of the sterile sleeve and corresponding sleeveconnectors of the connection hub. In one embodiment, the piercing memberpasses through the connection hub and connects to a fluid conduit. Oneor more optional flow restrictors may be utilized. Displacement of anactivation mechanism by a user causes displacement of the connection hubto cause the piercing member to penetrate the pierceable seal.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a flow restrictingfluid pathway connection having a piercing member and a sterile sleeve,wherein the piercing member is initially retained within the sterilesleeve, a drug container having a cap, a pierceable seal, a barrel, anda plunger seal, and a connection hub having an internal aperture thereinto modify the flow of a drug fluid passing there-through. The pierceableseal has a seal barrier that may be penetrated, upon user initiation, bythe piercing member. In a preferred embodiment, the piercing member isinitially within the pierceable seal and in contact with, or adjacentto, the seal barrier. The sterile sleeve is compressible or collapsible,or otherwise deformable from its initial configuration. In a preferredembodiment, the sterile sleeve is a pre-formed aspect of the pierceableseal. The sterile sleeve is connected to the connection hub byengagement between hub connectors of the sterile sleeve andcorresponding sleeve connectors of the connection hub. The piercingmember connects to one end of an internal aperture within the connectionhub and a fluid conduit connects to another end of the internalaperture. In a preferred embodiment, the internal aperture may beutilized to function as a flow restrictor. Displacement of an activationmechanism by a user causes displacement of the connection hub to causethe piercing member to penetrate the pierceable seal.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a drugdelivery pump with integrated sterility maintenance features having ahousing and an assembly platform, upon which an activation mechanism, aninsertion mechanism, a fluid pathway connection, a power and controlsystem, and a drive mechanism having a drug container may be mounted,said fluid pathway connection including a connection hub, a piercingmember, a sterile sleeve, wherein the drug container has a cap, apierceable seal, a barrel, and a plunger seal, and wherein the piercingmember is initially retained within the sterile sleeve between theconnection hub and the pierceable seal of the drug container. The drugcontainer contains a drug fluid for delivery into the body of a user.The pierceable seal has a seal barrier that may be penetrated, upon userinitiation, by the piercing member. In at least one embodiment, thepiercing member is initially within the pierceable seal and in contactwith, or adjacent to, the seal barrier. Such a configuration mayminimize the distance the fluid pathway connection must be translated toenable connection of the fluid path. Displacement of an activationmechanism by a user causes displacement of the connection hub to causethe piercing member to penetrate the pierceable seal.

The novel embodiments of the present invention provide user-initiatedfluid pathway connections to drug containers, and drug pumps whichutilize such connections which are capable of maintaining the sterilityof the fluid pathway before, during, and after operation of the device,and which enable active safety controls for the device. Throughout thisspecification, unless otherwise indicated, “comprise,” “comprises,” and“comprising,” or related terms such as “includes” or “consists of,” areused inclusively rather than exclusively, so that a stated integer orgroup of integers may include one or more other non-stated integers orgroups of integers. As will be described further below, the embodimentsof the present invention may include one or more additional componentswhich may be considered standard components in the industry of medicaldevices. The components, and the embodiments containing such components,are within the contemplation of the present invention and are to beunderstood as falling within the breadth and scope of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following non-limiting embodiments of the invention are describedherein with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A shows an isometric view of a drug delivery pump having a sterilefluid pathway connect, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 1B shows an isometric view of the interior components of the drugdelivery pump shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C shows an isometric view of the bottom of the drug delivery pumpshown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A shows an isometric view of the user-initiated fluid pathwayconnections to drug containers, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2B shows an isometric view of the fluid pathway connection shown inFIG. 2A attached to a drug container;

FIG. 3A shows an exploded view of the fluid pathway connection, explodedalong a longitudinal axis “A,” according to at least one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional exploded view of the fluid pathwayconnection shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid pathway connectionattached to a drug container, as shown in FIG. 2B, prior to useractivation;

FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid pathway connectionattached to a drug container, as shown in FIG. 2B, with the fluidpathway connected by the user;

FIG. 5A shows an isometric view, from the distal perspective, of aconnection hub, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows an isometric view, from the proximal perspective, of theconnection hub shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C shows a transparent view of the connection hub shown in FIG. 5B;

FIG. 6A shows an isometric view, from the distal perspective, of aconnection hub, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6B shows an isometric view, from the proximal perspective, of theconnection hub shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C shows a transparent view of the connection hub shown in FIG. 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein to describe the drive mechanisms, drug delivery pumps, orany of the relative positions of the components of the presentinvention, the terms “axial” or “axially” refer generally to alongitudinal axis “A” around which the drive mechanisms are preferablypositioned, although not necessarily symmetrically there-around. Theterm “radial” refers generally to a direction normal to axis A. Theterms “proximal,” “rear,” “rearward,” “back,” or “backward” refergenerally to an axial direction in the direction “P”. The terms“distal,” “front,” “frontward,” “depressed,” or “forward” refergenerally to an axial direction in the direction “D”. As used herein,the term “glass” should be understood to include other similarlynon-reactive materials suitable for use in a pharmaceutical gradeapplication that would normally require glass, including but not limitedto certain non-reactive polymers such as cyclic olefin copolymers (COC)and cyclic olefin polymers (COP). The term “plastic” may include boththermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Thermoplastic polymers can bere-softened to their original condition by heat; thermosetting polymerscannot. As used herein, the term “plastic” refers primarily to moldablethermoplastic polymers such as, for example, polyethylene andpolypropylene, or an acrylic resin, that also typically contain otheringredients such as curatives, fillers, reinforcing agents, colorants,and/or plasticizers, etc., and that can be formed or molded under heatand pressure. As used herein, the term “plastic” is not meant to includeglass, non-reactive polymers, or elastomers that are approved for use inapplications where they are in direct contact with therapeutic liquidsthat can interact with plastic or that can be degraded by substituentsthat could otherwise enter the liquid from plastic. The term“elastomer,” “elastomeric” or “elastomeric material” refers primarily tocross-linked thermosetting rubbery polymers that are more easilydeformable than plastics but that are approved for use withpharmaceutical grade fluids and are not readily susceptible to leachingor gas migration under ambient temperature and pressure. “Fluid” refersprimarily to liquids, but can also include suspensions of solidsdispersed in liquids, and gasses dissolved in or otherwise presenttogether within liquids inside the fluid-containing portions of thepumps. According to various aspects and embodiments described herein,reference is made to a “biasing member”, which may be any member that iscapable of storing and releasing energy. Non-limiting examples include aspring, such as for example a coiled spring, a compression or extensionspring, a torsional spring, and a leaf spring, a resilientlycompressible or elastic band, or any other member with similarfunctions. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, thebiasing member is a spring, preferably a compression spring.

The novel devices of the present invention provide container connectionswhich are user-initiated and which maintain the sterility of the fluidpathway, and drug delivery pumps which incorporate such sterile fluidpathway connections to drug containers. Such devices are safe and easyto use, and are aesthetically and ergonomically appealing forself-administering patients. The devices described herein incorporatefeatures which make activation, operation, and lock-out of the devicesimple for even untrained users. The novel devices of the presentinvention provide these desirable features without any of the problemsassociated with known prior art devices. Certain non-limitingembodiments of the novel drug delivery pumps, fluid pathway connections,and their respective components are described further herein withreference to the accompanying figures.

As used herein, the term “pump” is intended to include any number ofdrug delivery systems which are capable of dispensing a fluid to a userupon activation. Such drug delivery systems include, for example,injection systems, infusion pumps, bolus injectors, and the like. FIGS.1A-1C show an exemplary drug delivery device according to at least oneembodiment of the present invention. The drug delivery device may beutilized to administer delivery of a drug treatment into a body of auser. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the drug pump 10 includes a pump housing12. Pump housing 12 may include one or more housing subcomponents whichare fixedly engageable to facilitate easier manufacturing, assembly, andoperation of the drug pump. For example, drug pump 10 includes a pumphousing 12 which includes an upper housing 12A and a lower housing 12B.The drug pump may further include an activation mechanism 14, a statusindicator 16, and a window 18. Window 18 may be any translucent ortransmissive surface through which the operation of the drug pump may beviewed. As shown in FIG. 1B, drug pump further includes assemblyplatform 20, sterile fluid conduit 30, drive mechanism 100 having drugcontainer 50, insertion mechanism 200, fluid pathway connection 300, andpower and control system 400. One or more of the components of such drugpumps may be modular in that they may be, for example, pre-assembled asseparate components and configured into position onto the assemblyplatform 20 of the drug pump 10 during manufacturing.

The pump housing 12 contains all of the device components and provides ameans of removably attaching the device 10 to the skin of the user. Thepump housing 12 also provides protection to the interior components ofthe device 10 against environmental influences. The pump housing 12 isergonomically and aesthetically designed in size, shape, and relatedfeatures to facilitate easy packaging, storage, handling, and use byusers who may be untrained and/or physically impaired. Furthermore, theexternal surface of the pump housing 12 may be utilized to provideproduct labeling, safety instructions, and the like. Additionally, asdescribed above, housing 12 may include certain components, such asstatus indicator 16 and window 18, which may provide operation feedbackto the user.

In at least one embodiment, the drug pump 10 provides an activationmechanism 14 that is displaced by the user to trigger the start commandto the power and control system 400. In a preferred embodiment, theactivation mechanism is a start button 14 that is located through thepump housing 12, such as through an aperture between upper housing 12Aand lower housing 12B, and which contacts a control arm 40 of the powerand control system 400. In at least one embodiment, the start button 14may be a push button, and in other embodiments, may be an on/off switch,a toggle, or any similar activation feature known in the art. The pumphousing 12 also provides a status indicator 16 and a window 18. In otherembodiments, one or more of the activation mechanism 14, the statusindicator 16, the window 18, and combinations thereof may be provided onthe upper housing 12A or the lower housing 12B such as, for example, ona side visible to the user when the drug pump 10 is placed on the bodyof the user. Housing 12 is described in further detail hereinafter withreference to other components and embodiments of the present invention.

Drug pump is configured such that, upon activation by a user bydepression of the activation mechanism, the drug pump is initiated to:insert a fluid pathway into the user; enable, connect, or open necessaryconnections between a drug container, a fluid pathway, and a sterilefluid conduit; and force drug fluid stored in the drug container throughthe fluid pathway and fluid conduit for delivery into a user. One ormore optional safety mechanisms may be utilized, for example, to preventpremature activation of the drug pump. For example, an optional on-bodysensor 24 (shown in FIG. 1C) may be provided in one embodiment as asafety feature to ensure that the power and control system 400, or theactivation mechanism, cannot be engaged unless the drug pump 10 is incontact with the body of the user. In one such embodiment, the on-bodysensor 24 is located on the bottom of lower housing 12B where it maycome in contact with the user's body. Upon displacement of the on-bodysensor 24, depression of the activation mechanism is permitted.Accordingly, in at least one embodiment the on-body sensor 24 is amechanical safety mechanism, such as for example a mechanical lock out,that prevents triggering of the drug pump 10 by the activation mechanism14. In another embodiment, the on-body sensor may be anelectro-mechanical sensor such as a mechanical lock out that sends asignal to the power and control system 400 to permit activation. Instill other embodiments, the on-body sensor can be electrically basedsuch as, for example, a capacitive- or impedance-based sensor which mustdetect tissue before permitting activation of the power and controlsystem 400. These concepts are not mutually exclusive and one or morecombinations may be utilized within the breadth of the present inventionto prevent, for example, premature activation of the drug pump. In apreferred embodiment, the drug pump 10 utilizes one or more mechanicalon-body sensors. Additional integrated safety mechanisms are describedherein with reference to other components of the novel drug pumps.

Power and Control System:

The power and control system 400 includes a power source, which providesthe energy for various electrical components within the drug pump, oneor more feedback mechanisms, a microcontroller, a circuit board, one ormore conductive pads, and one or more interconnects. Other componentscommonly used in such electrical systems may also be included, as wouldbe appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art. The one or morefeedback mechanisms may include, for example, audible alarms such aspiezo alarms and/or light indicators such as light emitting diodes(LEDs). The microcontroller may be, for example, a microprocessor. Thepower and control system 400 controls several device interactions withthe user and interfaces with the drive mechanism 100. In one embodiment,the power and control system 400 interfaces with the control arm 40 toidentify when the on-body sensor 24 and/or the activation mechanism 14have been activated. The power and control system 400 may also interfacewith the status indicator 16 of the pump housing 12, which may be atransmissive or translucent material which permits light transfer, toprovide visual feedback to the user. The power and control system 400interfaces with the drive mechanism 100 through one or moreinterconnects to relay status indication, such as activation, drugdelivery, and end-of-dose, to the user. Such status indication may bepresented to the user via auditory tones, such as through the audiblealarms, and/or via visual indicators, such as through the LEDs. In apreferred embodiment, the control interfaces between the power andcontrol system and the other components of the drug pump are not engagedor connected until activation by the user. This is a desirable safetyfeature that prevents accidental operation of the drug pump and mayadditionally maintain the energy contained in the power source duringstorage, transportation, and the like.

The power and control system 400 may be configured to provide a numberof different status indicators to the user. For example, the power andcontrol system 400 may be configured such that after the on-body sensorand/or trigger mechanism have been pressed, the power and control system400 provides a ready-to-start status signal via the status indicator 16if device start-up checks provide no errors. After providing theready-to-start status signal and, in an embodiment with the optionalon-body sensor, if the on-body sensor remains in contact with the bodyof the user, the power and control system 400 will power the drivemechanism 100 to begin delivery of the drug treatment through the fluidpathway connection 300 and sterile fluid conduit 30. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the insertion mechanism 200 and thefluid pathway connection 300 may be caused to activate directly by useroperation of the activation mechanism 14. During the drug deliveryprocess, the power and control system 400 is configured to provide adispensing status signal via the status indicator 16. After the drug hasbeen administered into the body of the user and after the end of anyadditional dwell time, to ensure that substantially the entire dose hasbeen delivered to the user, the power and control system 400 may providean okay-to-remove status signal via the status indicator 16. This may beindependently verified by the user by viewing the drive mechanism anddrug dose delivery through the window 18 of the pump housing 12.Additionally, the power and control system 400 may be configured toprovide one or more alert signals via the status indicator 16, such asfor example alerts indicative of fault or operation failure situations.

Other power and control system configurations may be utilized with thenovel drug pumps of the present invention. For example, certainactivation delays may be utilized during drug delivery. As mentionedabove, one such delay optionally included within the systemconfiguration is a dwell time which ensures that substantially theentire drug dose has been delivered before signaling completion to theuser. Similarly, activation of the device may require a delayeddepression (i.e., pushing) of the activation mechanism 14 of the drugpump 10 prior to drug pump activation. Additionally, the system mayinclude a feature which permits the user to respond to the end-of-dosesignals and to deactivate or power-down the drug pump. Such a featuremay similarly require a delayed depression of the activation mechanism,to prevent accidental deactivation of the device. Such features providedesirable safety integration and ease-of-use parameters to the drugpumps. An additional safety feature may be integrated into theactivation mechanism to prevent partial depression and, therefore,partial activation of the drug pumps. For example, the activationmechanism and/or power and control system may be configured such thatthe device is either completely off or completely on, to prevent partialactivation. Such features are described in further detail hereinafterwith regard to other aspects of the novel drug pumps.

Insertion Mechanism:

A number of insertion mechanisms may be utilized within the drug pumpsof the present invention. In at least one embodiment, the insertionmechanism 200 includes an insertion mechanism housing having one or morelockout windows, and a base for connection to the assembly platformand/or pump housing (as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C). The connection ofthe base to the assembly platform 20 may be, for example, such that thebottom of the base is permitted to pass-through a hole in the assemblyplatform to permit direct contact of the base to the body of the user.In such configurations, the bottom of the base may include a sealingmembrane that is removable prior to use of the drug pump 10. Theinsertion mechanism may further include one or more insertion biasingmembers, a needle, a retraction biasing member, a cannula, and amanifold. The manifold may connect to sterile fluid conduit 30 to permitfluid flow through the manifold, cannula, and into the body of the userduring drug delivery.

As used herein, “needle” is intended to refer to a variety of needlesincluding but not limited to conventional hollow needles, such as arigid hollow steel needles, and solid core needles more commonlyreferred to as a “trocars.” In a preferred embodiment, the needle is a27 gauge solid core trocar and in other embodiments, the needle may beany size needle suitable to insert the cannula for the type of drug anddrug administration (e.g., subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal,etc.) intended. A sterile boot may be utilized within the needleinsertion mechanism. The sterile boot is a collapsible sterile membranethat is in fixed engagement at a proximal end with the manifold and at adistal end with the base. In at least on embodiment, the sterile boot ismaintained in fixed engagement at a distal end between base andinsertion mechanism housing. Base includes a base opening through whichthe needle and cannula may pass-through during operation of theinsertion mechanism, as will be described further below. Sterility ofthe cannula and needle are maintained by their initial positioningwithin the sterile portions of the insertion mechanism. Specifically, asdescribed above, needle and cannula are maintained in the sterileenvironment of the manifold and sterile boot. The base opening of basemay be closed from non-sterile environments as well, such as by forexample a sealing membrane 254 (shown in FIG. 1C).

According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, theinsertion mechanism is initially locked into a ready-to use-stage bylockout pin(s) which are initially positioned within lockout windows ofthe insertion mechanism housing. In this initial configuration,insertion biasing member and retraction biasing member are each retainedin their compressed, energized states. As shown in FIG. 1B, the lockoutpin(s) 208 may be directly displaced by user depression of theactivation mechanism 14. As the user disengages any safety mechanisms,such as an optional on-body sensor 24 (shown in FIG. 1C), the activationmechanism 14 may be depressed to initiate the drug pump. Depression ofthe activation mechanism 14 may directly cause translation ordisplacement of control arm 40 and directly or indirectly causedisplacement of lockout pin(s) 208 from their initial position withinlocking windows 202A of insertion mechanism housing 202. Displacement ofthe lockout pin(s) 208 permits insertion biasing member to decompressfrom its initial compressed, energized state. This decompression of theinsertion biasing member drives the needle and the cannula into the bodyof the user. At the end of the insertion stage, the retraction biasingmember is permitted to expand in the proximal direction from its initialenergized state. This axial expansion in the proximal direction of theretraction biasing member retracts the needle, while maintaining thecannula in fluid communication with the body of the user. Accordingly,the insertion mechanism may be used to insert a needle and cannula intothe user and, subsequently, retract the needle while retaining thecannula in position for drug delivery to the body of the user.

Drive Mechanism:

A number of drive mechanisms may be utilized to force fluid from a drugcontainer for delivery into the body of a user. In one such embodiment,the drive mechanism 100 includes a drive housing, a status switchinterconnect, and a drug container having a cap, a pierceable seal, abarrel, and a plunger seal. The drug container may contain a drug fluid,within the barrel between the pierceable seal and the plunger seal, fordelivery through the insertion mechanism and drug pump into the body ofthe user. The seals described herein may be comprised of a number ofmaterials but are, in a preferred embodiment, comprised of one or moreelastomers or rubbers. The drive mechanism may further include aconnection mount to guide the insertion of the piercing member of thefluid pathway connection into the barrel 58 of the drug container. Thedrive mechanism 100 may further contain one or more drive biasingmembers, one or more release mechanisms, and one or more guides, as aredescribed further herein. The components of the drive mechanism functionto force a fluid from the drug container out through the pierceableseal, or preferably through the piercing member of the fluid pathwayconnection, for delivery through the fluid pathway connection, sterilefluid conduit, and insertion mechanism into the body of the user.

In one particular embodiment, the drive mechanism 100 employs one ormore compression springs as the biasing member(s). Upon activation ofthe drug pump by the user, the power and control system 400 may beactuated to directly or indirectly release the compression spring(s)from an energized state. Upon release, the compression spring(s) maybear against and act upon the plunger seal to force the fluid drug outof the drug container. The fluid pathway connection 300 may be connectedthrough the pierceable seal prior to, concurrently with, or afteractivation of the drive mechanism to permit fluid flow from the drugcontainer, through the fluid pathway connection, sterile fluid conduit,and insertion mechanism, and into the body of the user for drugdelivery. In at least one embodiment, the fluid flows through only amanifold and a cannula of the insertion mechanism, thereby maintainingthe sterility of the fluid pathway before and during drug delivery. Suchcomponents and their functions are described in further detailhereinafter.

The components of the drive mechanism 100, upon activation, may be usedto drive axial translation in the distal direction of the plunger sealof the drug container. Optionally, the drive mechanism 100 may includeone or more compliance features which enable additional axialtranslation of the plunger seal to, for example, ensure thatsubstantially the entire drug dose has been delivered to the user andmake sure that the feedback contact mechanisms have connected.Additionally or alternatively, the plunger seal, itself, may have somecompressibility permitting a compliance push of drug fluid from the drugcontainer. The drive mechanism 100 may similarly include one or morestatus indication mechanisms, such as interconnects and contacts, tomeasure and communicate the status of the drive mechanism before,during, and after operation of the drive mechanism and the device to theuser. Furthermore, the drive mechanism 100 may include one or moresafety mechanisms, such as premature activation prevention mechanisms,to enhance the safety and usability of the mechanism and the device.Further details related to the drive mechanism 100 are provided hereinwith reference to other components of the drug pump.

Fluid Pathway Connection:

The novel embodiments of the present invention provide user-initiatedfluid pathway connections to drug containers, and drug pumps whichutilize such connections which are capable of maintaining the sterilityof the fluid pathway before, during, and after operation of the device,and which enable active safety controls for the device. In oneembodiment, the fluid pathway connection 300 includes a sterile fluidconduit 30, a piercing member 330, a connection hub 310, and a sterilesleeve 320, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The fluid pathway connectionmay, optionally, further include one or more flow restrictors. Uponproper activation of the device 10 by the user, the fluid pathwayconnection 300 is connected to the drug container 50, thereby enablingfluid flow from the drug container (as may be forced by the drivemechanism 100), through the fluid pathway connection 300, the fluidconduit 30, the insertion mechanism 200 and into the body of the user.Such connection between the fluid pathway connection 300 and the drugcontainer 50 may be facilitated by a piercing member 330, such as aneedle, penetrating a pierceable seal 56 (shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and4B) of the drug container 50. The sterility of this connection may bemaintained by performing the connection within a flexible sterile sleeve320. Upon substantially simultaneous activation of the insertionmechanism 200, the fluid pathway between drug container 50 and insertionmechanism 200 is complete to permit drug delivery into the body of theuser.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the piercing memberof the fluid pathway connection is caused to penetrate the pierceableseal of the drug container of the drive mechanism by direct action ofthe user, such as by depression of the activation mechanism by the user.For example, the activation mechanism itself may bear on the fluidpathway connection such that displacement of the activation mechanismfrom its original position also causes displacement of the fluid pathwayconnection. In a preferred embodiment, this connection is enabled by theuser depressing the activation mechanism and, thereby, driving thepiercing member through the pierceable seal. Because the fluid pathwayconnection is not connected to the drug container until activation bythe user, fluid flow from the drug container is prevented until desiredby the user. This provides an important safety feature to the user whilealso maintaining the container integrity of the drug container andsterility of the fluid pathway. In such an embodiment, a collapsible orcompressible sterile sleeve may be fixedly attached between the cap ofthe drug container and the connection hub of the fluid pathwayconnection. The piercing member may reside within the sterile sleeveuntil a connection between the fluid connection pathway and the drugcontainer is desired. The sterile sleeve may be sterilized to ensure thesterility of the piercing member and the fluid pathway prior toactivation of the device and connection between the fluid pathwayconnection and the drug container.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the fluid pathway connection 300 may be attached toa drug container 50 and mounted, by a number of known methods, eitherfixedly or removably to an assembly platform 20 or housing of the drugpump. The assembly platform may be a separate component from thehousing, or may be a unified component of the housing such a pre-formedmounting aspect on the interior surfaces of the housing. In oneembodiment, the drug container 50 may be mounted, connected, orotherwise attached to a fixed aspect of the assembly platform 20 orhousing, while the fluid pathway connection 300 is mounted, connected,or otherwise attached to a movable guide 390 that is capable of beingtranslated upon user translation of the activation mechanism 14. In analternative embodiment, this configuration can be reversed such that thedrug container 50 is attached to a movable guide 390 and the fluidpathway connection 300 is attached to a fixed aspect of the assemblyplatform 20 or housing. In either configuration, the sterility of thefluid pathway is maintained, the pathway for fluid flow is not connecteduntil desired by the user, and user-initiated activation causes theconnection of the drug container and the fluid pathway connection. Whilethe former configuration is preferred, the latter configuration may bedesired in certain embodiments such as, for example, those which utilizecartridge-style drug containers. User translation or similardisplacement of the activation mechanism 14 causes displacement, eitherdirectly or indirectly, of the guide 390 to enable a connection betweenthe fluid pathway connection and the drug container. Such displacementof the guide 390 may optionally be assisted, for example to reduce theactivation force needed by the user acting upon the activation mechanism14, by a number of different biasing members including compressionsprings, extension springs, elastic bands, or the like.

FIG. 2B shows the fluid pathway connection 300 and the drug container 50apart from the housing, assembly platform, and other components of thedrug pump. As stated above, drug container 50 may include barrel 58having a plunger seal 60 at one end and a cap 52 at another end. Thefluid pathway connection 300 may be mounted, connected, or otherwiseattached to the drug container 50 at the cap 52. At least in an initialconfiguration, a piercing member 330 is maintained within a sterilesleeve 320 with a distal end adjacent to, or contacting, a pierceableseal of the drug container 50. The piercing member 330 may be a numberof cannulas or conduits, such as rigid needles, and may be comprised ofa number of materials, such as steel. In at least one embodiment, thepiercing member 330 is a rigid steel needle. The sterile sleeve 320 is acompressible or collapsible membrane positioned between the drugcontainer 50 and the connection hub 310 and provides a sterileenvironment within which the piercing member 330 may reside. The sterilesleeve 320 may be comprised of a number of materials which arecompressible or collapsible, but preferably is an elastomeric membrane.The sterile sleeve 320 may be a number of different shapes orconfigurations, including cones, pyramids, ellipsoids, ovoids, spheres,octahedron (diamond-shaped), and the like, which are capable of beingcompressed, collapsed, or otherwise deformed to permit two adjacentcomponents to become closer together while maintaining sterility of aninterior environment within the sleeve. Similarly, the sterile sleeve320 may have one or more aspects, such as longitudinal (i.e., axial)and/or latitudinal (i.e., radial) groove striations, ridges, valleys,accordion folds, and the like, which promote compressibility orcollapsibility. Such aspects may be positioned equidistant ornon-equidistant, and in a myriad of configurations including along theinner surface, the outer surface, or both surfaces of the sterilesleeve. FIG. 2B shows an embodiment having longitudinal grooves whichare equidistant along the circumferential exterior surface of thesterile sleeve 320.

The piercing member 330 is maintained in a sterile environment withinthe sterile sleeve 320. This sterile environment is maintained betweenthe connection hub 310 and the cap 52 of the drug container 50. FIG. 3Ashows an exploded view of the arrangement of the components of the fluidpathway connection, according to at least one embodiment of the presentinvention, while FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional exploded view. Thesefigures include certain components of the drug container, specificallythe pierceable seal 56 and the optional connection mount 54, as theyrelate to the connection of the fluid pathway connection 300. As shown,a sleeve interface surface 320A of the sterile sleeve 320 is caused tocontact a seal interface surface 56A of pierceable seal 56 uponassembly. These corresponding interface surfaces may be retained inposition and/or connection by cap 52, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, suchthat a distal end of the sterile sleeve 320 may be held fixed within thecap 52 while the remainder of the sterile sleeve 320 is outside the cap52. When utilized, the optional connection mount 54 may reside within aseal recess 56B of the pierceable seal 56, and within the sterileinterior environment of the sterile sleeve 320. Alternatively, thepierceable seal 56 and the sterile sleeve 320 may be two aspects of asingle pre-formed component (i.e., a unified component having two ormore functions). In such a configuration, the cap 52 may similarly beutilized to hold the components in place at a proximal end of the drugcontainer 50 (and attached to the proximal end of the barrel 58). Ineither of these embodiments, the sterile sleeve 320 may have a containerconnection opening 320B at a distal end through which the piercingmember 330 may translate to pierce the pierceable seal 56 and enable thefluid flow connection with the drug container 50. Alternatively, theconnection opening 320B may be a closed surface and function as apierceable sealing membrane between the fluid pathway and the drugcontainer. However, in at least a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, pierceable seal 56 has a seal barrier 56C that would bepierced to open the drug container to the fluid pathway. In an initialposition, the distal end of the piercing member 330 may reside adjacentto, or in contact with, the seal barrier 56C of the pierceable seal 56to, for example, minimize the distance of translation of the fluidpathway connection 300 to pierce the pierceable seal 56 and open thedrug container to the fluid pathway. In one particular embodiment, thedistal end of the piercing member 330 may reside at least partiallywithin the seal barrier 56C of the pierceable seal 56, yet not fullypassing there-through until activation of the device by the user. Whenan optional connection mount 54 is utilized, for example to ensure axialpiercing of the pierceable seal 56, the piercing member 330 may passthrough a piercing member recess 54A of the connection mount 54.

The sterile sleeve 320 is connected at a proximal end to a connectionhub 310. In one embodiment, this connection is facilitated by engagementbetween hub connectors 320C of sterile sleeve 320 and correspondingsleeve connectors 310C of connection hub 310. This engagement can be asnap-fit, interference fit, screw fit, or a number of other connectivelinkages. The piercing member 330 passes through the connection hub 310and is held in place at the piercing member connection aperture 310A. Asdescribed further below, in one embodiment the connection hub 310 isconfigured to accept a bent piercing member 330 such that the piercingmember passes through and is held in place at both the piercing memberconnection aperture 310A and the conduit connection aperture 310B. Thefluid conduit 30 is connected to the proximal end of the piercing member330 at the conduit connection aperture 310B. As would be readilyappreciated by an ordinary skilled artisan, a number of glues oradhesives, or other connection methods such as snap-fit, interferencefit, screw fit, fusion joining, welding, ultrasonic welding, and thelike may optionally be utilized to engage one or more of the componentsdescribed herein. FIGS. 5A-5C, show a connection hub 310 according toone embodiment of the present invention, with a fluid conduit 30 and apiercing member 330 attached. FIGS. 5A and 5B show that the piercingmember 330 may pass through the connection hub 310. FIG. 5C provides atransparent view of the connection hub 310, in an embodiment having abent piercing member 330 which connects to the fluid conduit 30 asdescribed above.

One or more optional flow restrictors may be utilized within theconfigurations of the fluid pathway connection described herein. Forexample, a flow restrictor may be utilized at the connection between thepiercing member 330 and the fluid conduit 30. The drug pump is capableof delivering a range of drugs with different viscosities and volumes.The drug pump is capable of delivering a drug at a controlled flow rate(speed) and/or of a specified volume. In one embodiment, the drugdelivery process is controlled by one or more flow restrictors withinthe fluid pathway connection and/or the sterile fluid conduit. In otherembodiments, other flow rates may be provided by varying the geometry ofthe fluid flow path or delivery conduit, varying the speed at which acomponent of the drive mechanism advances into the drug container todispense the drug therein, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the connection hub itselfmay be utilized as part of the fluid path and may, optionally, functionas a flow restrictor. FIGS. 6A and 6B show such an embodiment, whereconnection hub 3310 has a piercing member 3330 and a fluid conduit 3030connected at opposite ends of an internal aperture 3310D of theconnection hub 3310 (visible in the transparent view shown in FIG. 6C).Accordingly, the internal aperture 3310D functions as part of the fluidpath and may be utilized to restrict or otherwise modify the flow offluid from the drug container 50 to the insertion mechanism 200 fordelivery of the drug fluid to the body of the user. For example, theinternal aperture 3310D may have a smaller diameter than the fluidconduit 30 to restrict the fluid flow through the fluid pathwayconnection 300. Additionally or alternatively, the internal aperture3310D may be configured to extend the length of the fluid path toprolong the time it takes for drug to flow from the drug container tothe user. For example, while the embodiment shown in FIG. 6C shows astraight, short distance internal aperture 3310D, the internal aperturemay be a circuitous or tortuous path within the connection hub whichextends the fluid pathway and/or provides further flow restriction tothe system. By utilizing one or more non-reactive materials and/ornon-reactive polymers to form the connection hub 3310, the containerintegrity and sterility of the fluid path may be maintained.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, upon displacement by the user of theactivation mechanism 14 (in the direction of the solid arrow) thepiercing member 330 is caused to penetrate the pierceable seal 56(through the seal barrier 56C) to open the fluid path from the drugcontainer 50 to the fluid pathway connection 300. As described above,because the piercing member 330 is maintained in a sterile environmentwithin the sterile sleeve 320, the sterility of the fluid path is notcompromised. The compressible or collapsible sterile sleeve 320 isdeformed to permit the translation or displacement of the fluid pathwayconnection 300 upon user initiation. FIG. 4A shows an embodiment of thepresent invention which utilizes a sterile sleeve 320 and a pierceableseal 56 as separate components, attached to the proximal end of a barrel58 of the drug container 50 by a cap 52. As described above, however,sterile sleeve 320 and pierceable seal 56 may be a unified componentthat provides two or more functions. An optional connection mount 54 isalso shown to guide the piercing member 330 upon activation. In thisembodiment, the sterile sleeve 320 is shown to deform radially as it iscompressed in the axial direction. However, in other embodiments thesterile sleeve 320 may be caused to collapse upon itself in the axialdirection such as in, for example, an accordion-style sterile sleeve320. By keeping the fluid path disconnected until use by the user, thesterility of the fluid pathway and the drug container are maintained.This novel configuration also provides an additional safety feature tothe user which prevents drug flow until desired, and actively initiated,by the user.

As described herein, the fluid pathway connection, and specifically asterile sleeve of the fluid pathway connection, may be connected to thecap and/or pierceable seal of the drug container upon user-initiatedactivation of the device. A fluid conduit may be connected at one end tothe fluid pathway connection and at another end to the insertionmechanism such that the fluid pathway, when opened, connected, orotherwise enabled travels directly from the drug container, fluidpathway connection, fluid conduit, insertion mechanism, and through thecannula for drug delivery into the body of a user. The components whichconstitute the pathway for fluid flow are now assembled. Thesecomponents may be sterilized, by a number of known methods, and thenmounted either fixedly or removably to an assembly platform or housingof the drug pump, as shown in FIG. 1B.

Certain optional standard components or variations of sterile pathwayconnection 300 or drug pump 10 are contemplated while remaining withinthe breadth and scope of the present invention. For example, upper orlower housings may optionally contain one or more transparent ortranslucent windows 18, as shown in FIG. 1A, to enable the user to viewthe operation of the drug pump 10 or verify that drug dose hascompleted. Additionally, the drug pump 10 may contain an adhesive patch26 and a patch liner 28 on the bottom surface of the housing 12. Theadhesive patch 26 may be utilized to adhere the drug pump 10 to the bodyof the user for delivery of the drug dose. As would be readilyunderstood by one having ordinary skill in the art, the adhesive patch26 may have an adhesive surface for adhesion of the drug pump to thebody of the user. The adhesive surface of the adhesive patch 26 mayinitially be covered by a non-adhesive patch liner 28, which is removedfrom the adhesive patch 26 prior to placement of the drug pump 10 incontact with the body of the user. Removal of the patch liner 28 mayfurther remove the sealing membrane 254 of the insertion mechanism 200,opening the insertion mechanism to the body of the user for drugdelivery (as shown in FIG. 1C). Furthermore, as described above, anumber of flow restrictors may be optionally utilized to modify the flowof fluid within the fluid pathway connection.

Similarly, one or more of the components of fluid pathway connection 300and drug pump 10 may be modified while remaining functionally within thebreadth and scope of the present invention. For example, as describedabove, while the housing of drug pump 10 is shown as two separatecomponents upper housing 12A and lower housing 12B, these components maybe a single unified component. Similarly, while sterile sleeve 320 isshown as a separate component from pierceable seal 56, it may be aunified component pre-formed as part of pierceable seal. As discussedabove, a glue, adhesive, or other known materials or methods may beutilized to affix one or more components of the fluid pathway connectionand/or drug pump to each other. For example, the upper housing and lowerhousing may be separate components affixed together by a glue oradhesive, a screw fit connection, an interference fit, fusion joining,welding, ultrasonic welding, and the like; or the upper housing andlower housing may be a single unified component. Such standardcomponents and functional variations would be appreciated by one havingordinary skill in the art and are, accordingly, within the breadth andscope of the present invention.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the fluid pathwayconnections and drug pumps disclosed herein provide an efficient andeasily-operated system for automated drug delivery from a drugcontainer. The novel devices of the present invention provide containerconnections which are user-initiated and which maintain the sterility ofthe fluid pathway, and drug delivery pumps which incorporate suchsterile fluid pathway connections to drug containers. Such devices aresafe and easy to use, and are aesthetically and ergonomically appealingfor self-administering patients. The devices described hereinincorporate features which make activation, operation, and lock-out ofthe device simple for even untrained users. Because the fluid path isdisconnected until drug delivery is desired by the user, the sterilityof the fluid pathway connection, the drug container, the drug fluid, andthe device as a whole is maintained. These aspects of the presentinvention provide highly desirable storage, transportation, and safetyadvantages to the user. Furthermore, the novel configurations of thefluid pathway connections and drug pumps of the present inventionmaintain the sterility of the fluid path through operation of thedevice. Because the path that the drug fluid travels within the deviceis entirely maintained in a sterile condition, only these componentsneed be sterilized during the manufacturing process. Such componentsinclude the drug container of the drive mechanism, the fluid pathwayconnection, the sterile fluid conduit, and the insertion mechanism. Inat least one embodiment of the present invention, the power and controlsystem, the assembly platform, the control arm, the activationmechanism, the housing, and other components of the drug pump do notneed to be sterilized. This greatly improves the manufacturability ofthe device and reduces associated assembly costs. Accordingly, thedevices of the present invention do not require terminal sterilizationupon completion of assembly. A further benefit of the present inventionis that the components described herein are designed to be modular suchthat, for example, housing and other components of the pump drug mayreadily be configured to accept and operate connection hub 310,connection hub 3310, or a number of other variations of the componentsdescribed herein.

Assembly and/or manufacturing of fluid pathway connection 300, drugdelivery pump 10, or any of the individual components may utilize anumber of known materials and methodologies in the art. For example, anumber of known cleaning fluids such as isopropyl alcohol and hexane maybe used to clean the components and/or the devices. A number of knownadhesives or glues may similarly be employed in the manufacturingprocess. Additionally, known siliconization and/or lubrication fluidsand processes may be employed during the manufacture of the novelcomponents and devices. Furthermore, known sterilization processes maybe employed at one or more of the manufacturing or assembly stages toensure the sterility of the final product.

The fluid pathway connection may be assembled in a number ofmethodologies. In one method of assembly, the drug container 50 may beassembled and filled with a fluid for delivery to the user. The drugcontainer 50 includes a cap 52, a pierceable seal 56, a barrel 58, and aplunger seal 60. The pierceable seal 56 may be fixedly engaged betweenthe cap 52 and the barrel 58, at a distal end of the barrel 58. Thebarrel 58 may be filled with a drug fluid through the open proximal endprior to insertion of the plunger seal 60 from the proximal end of thebarrel 58. An optional connection mount 54 may be mounted to a distalend of the pierceable seal 56. The connection mount 54 to guide theinsertion of the piercing member of the fluid pathway connection intothe barrel 58 of the drug container 50. The drug container 50 may thenbe mounted to a distal end of drive housing 130. The sterile sleeve 320may be connected to the pierceable seal 56 and held in fixed contact bythe cap 52, as described above. The connection hub 310, fluid conduit30, and piercing member 330 may be assembled together and then attachedto the proximal end of the sterile sleeve 320 by engagement between hubconnectors 320C of sterile sleeve 320 and corresponding sleeveconnectors 310C of connection hub 310, as shown in FIG. 4A. The drivemechanism 100 may be attached to the distal end of the drug container50. The insertion mechanism 200 may be assembled and attached to theother end of the fluid conduit 30. This entire sub-assembly, includingdrive mechanism 100, drug container 50, fluid pathway connection 300,fluid conduit 30, and insertion mechanism 200 may be sterilized, asdescribed above, before assembly into the drug pump 10. Certaincomponents of this sub-assembly may be mounted to the assembly platform20 or directly to the interior of the housing 12, while other componentsare mounted to the guide 390 for activation by the user.

Manufacturing of a drug pump includes the step of attaching both thefluid pathway connection and drug container, either separately or as acombined component, to an assembly platform or housing of the drug pump.The method of manufacturing further includes attachment of the drivemechanism, drug container, and insertion mechanism to the assemblyplatform or housing. The additional components of the drug pump, asdescribed above, including the power and control system, the activationmechanism, and the control arm may be attached, preformed, orpre-assembled to the assembly platform or housing. An adhesive patch andpatch liner may be attached to the housing surface of the drug pump thatcontacts the user during operation of the device.

A method of operating the drug pump includes the steps of: activating,by a user, the activation mechanism; displacing a control arm to actuatean insertion mechanism; displacing a guide to translate a fluid pathwayconnection; and actuating a power and control system to activate a drivecontrol mechanism to drive fluid drug flow through the drug pump,wherein translating the fluid pathway connection causes a piercingmember to penetrate a pierceable seal thereby opening a fluid path froma drug container to the fluid pathway connection. The method may furtherinclude the step of: engaging an optional on-body sensor prior toactivating the activation mechanism. Furthermore, the method ofoperation may include translating a plunger seal within the drivecontrol mechanism and drug container to force fluid drug flow throughthe drug container, the fluid pathway connection, a sterile fluidconduit, and the insertion mechanism for delivery of the fluid drug tothe body of a user. The method of operation of the insertion mechanismand the drug pump may be better appreciated with reference to FIGS.4A-4B, as described above.

Throughout the specification, the aim has been to describe the preferredembodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any oneembodiment or specific collection of features. Various changes andmodifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustratedwithout departing from the present invention. The disclosure of eachpatent and scientific document, computer program and algorithm referredto in this specification is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid pathway connection comprising: a drugcontainer including a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, apierceable seal disposed at the proximal end of the barrel, and a capdisposed at the proximal end of the barrel; a piercing member; a fluidconduit; a connection hub, the piercing member being connected to theconnection hub; and a sterile sleeve, one end of the sterile sleevebeing fixedly coupled to the connection hub and an opposing end of thesterile sleeve being fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the drugcontainer, the piercing member being disposed within a sterileenvironment defined by the sterile sleeve, the connection hub, and thepierceable seal, the piercing member being disposed between theconnection hub and the pierceable seal of the drug container in aninitial unactivated position, wherein the pierceable seal and theconnection hub are adapted for relative movement between the initialunactivated position wherein the piercing member does not pierce thepierceable seal, and an activated position wherein the piercing memberextends through the pierceable seal, the sterile sleeve beingcompressible or collapsible and adapted to compress or collapse as theconnection hub and the pierceable seal are moved relatively between theinitial unactivated position and the activated position, the piercingmember being maintained in the sterile environment during movement fromthe initial unactivated position to the activated position.
 2. The fluidpathway connection of claim 1, wherein the drug container furtherincludes a plunger seal.
 3. The fluid pathway connection of claim 1,wherein the pierceable seal has a seal barrier configured to bepenetrated by the piercing member.
 4. The fluid pathway connection ofclaim 3, wherein the piercing member is initially disposed within thepierceable seal and in contact with, or adjacent to, the seal barrier.5. The fluid pathway connection of claim 1, wherein the piercing memberextends through the connection hub.
 6. The fluid pathway connection ofclaim 5, wherein the fluid conduit is fluidly coupled to the piercingmember opposite the pierceable seal.
 7. The fluid pathway connection ofclaim 1, wherein the sterile sleeve is a pre-formed aspect of thepierceable seal.
 8. The fluid pathway connection of claim 1, wherein thesterile sleeve is connected to the connection hub by engagement betweenhub connectors of the sterile sleeve and corresponding sleeve connectorsof the connection hub.
 9. The fluid pathway connection of claim 1,further including an activation mechanism.
 10. The fluid pathwayconnection of claim 9, wherein the activation mechanism includes abutton.
 11. The fluid pathway connection of claim 9, wherein theactivation mechanism is disposed along an axis of the connection hub.12. The fluid pathway connection of claim 11, wherein displacement ofthe activation mechanism by a user causes displacement of the connectionhub to cause the piercing member to penetrate the pierceable seal. 13.The fluid pathway connection of claim 11, wherein the connection hub isdisposed along an axis of the barrel.
 14. The fluid pathway connectionof claim 1, wherein the connection hub is disposed along an axis of thebarrel.
 15. The fluid pathway connection of claim 14, wherein theconnection hub, the piercing member, and the barrel are substantiallycoaxially disposed.
 16. The fluid pathway connection of claim 1, whereinthe connection hub includes an internal aperture, the piercing memberand the fluid conduit being fluidly connected at opposite ends of theinternal aperture of the connection hub, the internal aperture having atleast one of: a smaller internal diameter than the fluid conduit torestrict the flow of a drug fluid passing therethrough, and a circuitousor tortuous path within the connection hub to extend a fluid pathwaythrough the internal aperture.
 17. A drug delivery pump with integratedsterility maintenance features comprising: the fluid pathway connectionof claim 2; a housing; an assembly platform; an activation mechanismdisposed on the assembly platform; an insertion mechanism disposed onthe assembly platform; a power and control system disposed on theassembly platform; and a drive mechanism disposed on the assemblyplatform, the drive mechanism initially coupled to the drug container oradapted to be coupled to the drug container.
 18. The drug delivery pumpof claim 17, wherein the drug container contains a drug fluid.
 19. Thedrug delivery pump of claim 17, wherein the piercing member, thepierceable seal and the barrel are substantially coaxially disposed. 20.The drug delivery pump of claim 17, wherein the piercing member, thepierceable seal and the activation mechanism are substantially coaxiallydisposed.
 21. A fluid pathway connection comprising: a drug containerincluding a barrel having a proximal end and a distal end, a pierceableseal disposed at the proximal end of the barrel, and a cap disposed atthe proximal end of the barrel; a piercing member; a fluid conduit; aconnection hub, the piercing member being connected to the connectionhub; and a sterile sleeve, one end of the sterile sleeve being fixedlycoupled to the connection hub and an opposing end of the sterile sleevebeing fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the drug container, thesterile sleeve being a pre-formed aspect of the pierceable seal, thepiercing member being disposed within the sterile sleeve between theconnection hub and the pierceable seal of the drug container in aninitial unactivated position, wherein the pierceable seal and theconnection hub are adapted for relative movement between the initialunactivated position wherein the piercing member does not pierce thepierceable seal, and an activated position wherein the piercing memberextends through the pierceable seal, the sterile sleeve beingcompressible or collapsible and adapted to compress or collapse as theconnection hub and the pierceable seal are moved relatively between theinitial unactivated position and the activated position.
 22. A drugdelivery pump with integrated sterility maintenance features comprising:a fluid pathway connection including: a drug container including: abarrel having a proximal end and a distal end, a pierceable sealdisposed at the proximal end of the barrel, and a cap disposed at theproximal end of the barrel; a piercing member; a fluid conduit; aconnection hub, the piercing member being connected to the connectionhub; and a sterile sleeve, one end of the sterile sleeve being fixedlycoupled to the connection hub and an opposing end of the sterile sleevebeing fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the drug container, thepiercing member being disposed within the sterile sleeve between theconnection hub and the pierceable seal of the drug container in aninitial unactivated position, wherein the pierceable seal and theconnection hub are adapted for relative movement between the initialunactivated position wherein the piercing member does not pierce thepierceable seal, and an activated position wherein the piercing memberextends through the pierceable seal, the sterile sleeve beingcompressible or collapsible and adapted to compress or collapse as theconnection hub and the pierceable seal are moved relatively between theinitial unactivated position and the activated position; a housing; anassembly platform; an activation mechanism disposed on the assemblyplatform; an insertion mechanism disposed on the assembly platform; apower and control system disposed on the assembly platform; and a drivemechanism disposed on the assembly platform, the drive mechanisminitially coupled to the drug container or adapted to be coupled to thedrug container.
 23. The drug delivery pump of claim 22, wherein the drugcontainer contains a drug fluid.
 24. The drug delivery pump of claim 22,wherein the piercing member, the pierceable seal and the barrel aresubstantially coaxially disposed.
 25. The drug delivery pump of claim22, wherein the piercing member, the pierceable seal and the activationmechanism are substantially coaxially disposed.